In life as on social media, timing is everything. There are specific times that “govern” social media engagement for optimum results. Knowing these specific times could just be the key to unlocking your sales and improving your organic reach on social media. So what are the best times to post on social media? Let’s dive into it.
In case you thought there was a generic time that cuts across everyone on social media, I have to burst your bubble. Dealing with social media is almost the same as realizing that each snowflake is different, though they may look similar. This is because everyone’s target audience is unique to themselves. It is not advisable to look at someone else’s social media engagement to make judgements or predictions for yourself. Though their algorithms may prove similar, they may not work in every circumstance. As such it’s best to analyze your target audience’s social media behaviour and make deductions based on that.
A quick way to start the search on finding the best times to post on Facebook is by testing different times. Either post the same content at different times to compare engagement and see what works best or post at the assumed free times; like in the morning before work, at lunchtime and after work, when people are on their way home. These times have proven to be a good starting point, as they are free times where people are more prone to check their social media pages and engage with content that circulates on them.
Getting to know the best times to post on social media differ across even the various social media platforms for the same business. This is because each social media platform caters for a different audience, hence requires different types of posts. Though social media managing tools are recommended, it is not advisable to link all your social media platforms together. This is because of the above-stated reason; that every social media platform requires different content.
Another way to consider the best time to post on Instagram today is using your analytics of your target audience. This principle does not just apply to Instagram but can be used across all social media channels. Here, you access the best posting time by observing the times your target audiences like to come online, the type of posts they are more likely to give their utmost attention to and the behavioural patterns of their likes, comments, retweets and many more regarding current trends. These analytics help you to be more specific and intentional about getting your product directly in front of your customer, with every appeal to make a sale.
Finally, seeing as social media has connected us to various people from different parts of the world, it is important to take into consideration the time zone of your target market. This is essential to ensure that you are targeting the right peak times of your target market, rather than assuming that what works in your home country, works everywhere. For instance, your target audience may be in Accra, while you are based in China, this means your posting time has to be tailored to Ghana’s time zone and not that of China, as the day-to-day activities of a Ghanaian differ from a Chinese, hence different timelines. This is particularly helpful, especially considering the best time to post on Instagram during the lockdown.
Always remember, that dealing with social media is not a one-size-fits-all approach. With ardent research and rigorous planning, you are one step closer to unlocking your sales and improving your organic reach on social media.
Get started with Oze: OZE is the way
Wondering how to start researching your target market? With the OZE business app, you can access the geographic location most of your customers come from, the dates people are more likely to purchase a lot on, and the customer that keeps coming back, so you could track their behavioural pattern and find similar clients.